Multiple attachment point clay target hanger

ABSTRACT

A multiple attachment point lay target hanger is provided. The multiple attachment point lay target hanger includes a hanger; wherein the hanger comprises an attachment point in a first plane and an attachment point in a second plane. The multiple attachment point lay target hanger further includes a shaft. The multiple attachment point lay target hanger further includes a clay target support.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to target practice accessories, and more particularly to a clay target hanger with multiple attachment points.

BACKGROUND

Clay targets are commonly used for skeet, trap, and other shooting games and competitions. In these shooting competitions, clay targets are mechanically sent into the air or along the ground where they are engaged by a shooter with the goal of shooting and shattering the clay target. These mechanical devices can be expensive and require large fields for their use as the clay targets may travel long distances. Thus, many shooters are not able to use these mechanical devices for practice and must rely on other means.

Some shooters decide to simply lean the clay target against a tree, or try to tape the clay target to a string or branch. These methods are not ideal. Inventors have struggled to find ways of stabilizing and hanging clay targets. For example, paragraph [0003] of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/143,232, describes a clay target attachment clip that can be “inserted into cardboard backer of target stand and hung on a line.” However, cardboard may not be available, and thus this target hanger can only be used to hang the clay target from as line. The current clay target hangers allow one to hang a clay target on a line, but they are not equipped for other hanging methods.

FIG. 1 shows a shooting arrangement 100 with clay targets 102 and 104. As shown in FIG. 1, clay target hangers 110 allows the clay targets 102 and 104 to be hung from a line (e.g., string, wire, etc.). As shown in FIG. 1, when the clay target 104 is hung on the line using clay target hanger 110, it presents the clay target substantially perpendicular to the line (or in a first plane) wherein the face of the clay target is facing the shooter. However, a when clay target 102 is hung on a nail that extends towards the shooter (or in a second plane), the clay target hanger 110 presents the clay target substantially perpendicular to the nail, which results in the shooter not being shown the front of the target, but rather the shooter is shown the side of the clay target. This is because the hanger is only configured for hanging the clay target in a single plane. (i.e., perpendicular to line, or perpendicular to the nail). In certain aspects, the shooter may not have the space to move their shooting location, and thus their hanging options may be very limited. For example, a shooter may desire to use a tree as a projectile backstop. In other cases, the shooter may not have the ability to string a line. Thus, an improved clay target hanger is needed in the art for a multiple attachment point clay target hanger.

SUMMARY

A multiple attachment point clay target hanger and methods of use and manufacturing are provided herein. A multiple attachment point lay target hanger is provided. The multiple attachment point lay target hanger includes a hanger; wherein the hanger comprises an attachment point in a first plane and a attachment point in a second plane. The multiple attachment point lay target hanger further includes a shaft connected to the hanger. The multiple attachment point clay target hanger further includes a clay target support connected to the shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is more readily apparent from the specific description accompanied by the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a prior art clay target hanger;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a clay target hanger in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a clay target hanger in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a clay target hanger in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a clay target hanger in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a clay target hanger in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a clay target hanger in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 an illustration of a clay target hanger in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 an illustration of a clay target hanger in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that depending on the particular application at hand, many modifications, substitutions and variations can be made in, and to, the materials, apparatus, configurations, and methods of use of the devices of the present disclosure, and the innovations herein are not limited to any of the particular embodiments that are illustrated and described herein. The description below is merely an explanation by way of some examples thereof that should be fully commensurate with that of the claims appended hereafter and their functional equivalents, and merely serves to inform one of ordinary skill in the art how to make and use the innovations disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 shows multiple attachment point clay target hanger 200 in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. Multiple attachment point clay target hanger 200 includes hanger 210, shaft 220, and clay target support 230.

Hanger 210 in FIG. 2 includes a first plane attachment point 212 and second plane attachment point 214. Attachment point 212 is configured to allow a shooter to slip the multiple attachment point clay target hanger 200 over a line 240 through opening 216, wherein the line is substantially in a first plane.

Attachment point 214 is shown with hole 215. Hole 215 is oriented to attach the multiple attachment point clay target hanger in a second plane (e.g., a nail through hole 215, a tree branch through hole 215. In certain aspects, attachment point 214 is thin enough to be attached using a staple on either side of attachment point 214 and securing attachment point 214 to an object (such as a wood board or tree. In certain aspects, hole 215 is substantially cylindrical.

Shaft 220 in FIG. 2 connects hanger 210 to clay target support 230. In certain aspects shaft 220 may be long (e.g., greater than 3 centimeters (e.g., 4 centimeters to 20 centimeters)), very long (about a meter), or in yet other aspects, the shaft may be very short (e.g., less than 3 centimeters or on the order of millimeters). In certain aspects, the shaft may be reduced to a mere connection point. Clay target support 230 in FIG. 2 includes a support tab 234 and a retention tab 232. Support tab 234 and retention tab 232 are configured to attach to a clay target. In certain aspects, retention tab 232 is omitted. Multiple attachment point clay target hanger 200 may be constructed of injection molded plastic or composites. Multiple attachment point clay target hanger 200 may be constructed of metal or alloys. In certain aspects Multiple attachment point clay target hanger 200 may be constructed of multiple materials (or made in parts) without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. It is preferable to use a biodegradable material so to minimize the global impact of plastic waste.

FIG. 3 shows a portion of multiple attachment point clay target hanger 300 in accordance with the present disclosure and a partial cross section of a clay target 350. The broken lines depict the portion of the support tab (e.g., support tab 234 in FIG. 2) that fits inside the hollow body of the clay target.

FIG. 4 shows multiple attachment point clay target hanger 400 in accordance with certain aspects of the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, multiple attachment point clay target hanger 400 presents the clay target 450 substantially perpendicular to the object to which it is attached (i.e., the nail 417). It will be appreciated that the nail 417 may be inserted into a variety of objects (e.g., a tree, a wood board, etc.). In certain aspects, multiple attachment point clay target hanger 400 may be attached to a tree branch that is substantially perpendicular to the clay target 450.

FIG. 5 shows multiple attachment point clay target hanger 500 in accordance with certain aspects of the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, multiple attachment point clay target hanger 500 presents the clay target 550 substantially parallel to the object to which it is attached (i.e., the line 517).

FIG. 6 shows multiple attachment point clay target hanger 600 in accordance with certain aspects of the disclosure. FIG. 6 includes hanger 610, a shaft, and a clay target support. FIG. 6 further shows first plane attachment points 612 a, 612 b, and 612 c and second plane attachment point 614 (shown in dashed lines to depict a void. Attachment point 612 a is a round notch, 612 b is a non-round notch, and 612 c is flat. Each attachment point 612 a, 612 b, and 612 c is configured to attach multiple point clay target hanger 600 to an object in a first plane (e.g., a line, etc.) running substantially parallel to the clay target. FIG. 6 further shows second plane attachment point 614 which is shown by dashed lines representing a hole within hanger 610 though which multiple attachment point clay target hanger 600 may be attached in a second plane (e.g., a nail substantially perpendicular to the clay target.

FIG. 7 shows multiple attachment point clay target hanger 700 in accordance with certain aspects of the disclosure. FIG. 7 includes a hanger, a shaft 720 a, and a clay target support. FIG. 7 further shows first plane attachment point 712 and a second plane attachment point 714. Shaft 720 is shown with an ornamental design to emphasize that various designs of the multiple attachment point clay target hanger 700 may be used without deviating from the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows a multiple attachment point clay target hanger 800 in accordance with certain aspects of the disclosure. FIG. 8 includes a hanger, a shaft, and a clay target support 830. FIG. 8 further shows first plane attachment point 812 and a second plane attachment point 814. Clay target support 830 is shown with an ornamental design to emphasize that various designs of the multiple attachment point clay target hanger 800 may be used without deviating from the scope of the disclosure, so long as the it is suitable for supporting a clay target in a substantially stable manner so as to prevent problematic rotation of the clay target. In certain aspects, different clay target supports may be used to attach to various different clay targets (e.g., standard clay targets, non-standard clay targets, scaled clay targets, etc.).

FIG. 9 shows a multiple attachment point clay target hanger 900 in accordance with certain aspects of the disclosure. FIG. 9 includes a hanger 910, a shaft, and a clay target support. FIG. 9 further shows first plane attachment point 912 and a second plane attachment point 914. Second plane attachment point 914 is shown as using a Y-type support to emphasize that various designs of the multiple attachment point clay target hanger 900 may be used without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. In certain aspects, multiple second plane attachment points may be used (not shown)(e.g., a hole and a Y-type design, etc.).

In certain aspects, the reference to the singular form of a word may also refer to the plural, and a reference to the plural form of a word may refer to the singular thereof. While some of the advantages of the multiple attachment point clay target hanger disclosed herein are provided, the advantages are not limited to those described herein, as one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate more advantages and embodiments than those explicated listed or described herein. 

1. A multiple attachment point clay target apparatus, comprising: a hanger including an inner surface configured for attachment and a secondary attachment means; a shaft, wherein the shaft is connected to the hanger; and a clay target support, wherein the clay target support is connected to the shaft and configured to support a clay target via a support tab, an opening of the support tab being oriented opposite to an opening of the hanger.
 2. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multiple attachment point clay target hanger is plastic.
 3. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multiple attachment point clay target hanger is a composite.
 4. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 3, wherein the composite is a biodegradable composite.
 5. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is curved.
 6. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is non-curved.
 7. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary attachment means comprises a hole.
 8. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 7, wherein the hole is cylindrical.
 9. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment point in a second plane comprises a Y support.
 10. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary attachment means comprises more than one attachment mechanism.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner surface comprises a notch.
 13. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary attachment means comprises a flat portion.
 14. (canceled)
 15. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary attachment means is positioned on a curved portion of the hanger.
 16. The multiple attachment point clay target apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clay target support further includes a retention tab. 